There are over nine times as many coyotes in Seattle as within the same area in nearby wildlands in Washington state. Yet, within the city itself, coyote densities drop in areas where human density is high.
“Density is a really important metric that can affect disease transmissions, human-wildlife conflict and [coyotes’] effects on prey populations,” said Laura Prugh, a professor of wildlife science at the University of Washington.
The high density of coyotes found within the bustling urban center increases the likelihood of conflicts arising between the animals and the city’s inhabitants…